Translate documents from German to English
The languages are already set: upload the file and click Translate.
Your file is not uploaded. Only the text goes to Google Translate.
How to use it
- Choose the file: Word, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint, subtitles or text.
- Check that the source says German and the target English.
- Click Translate and download the document with the same formatting.
How it works
Common for documents from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: employment contracts, job references, technical papers and machine manuals.
False friends: bekommen means to receive, Gift means poison and also means also. German job references (Arbeitszeugnis) use coded phrases where polite wording can signal an average rating.
English usually takes less room than Spanish, French or German, so the document layout has space to spare.
German compound words split cleanly in translation. Legal and technical German often has long sentences: check that the full meaning is kept.
FAQ
Can I translate a German job reference?
Yes, to read it. Its coded phrases have agreed meanings, so ask someone who knows German hiring practice to interpret it.
American or British English?
American English. For the UK, check the spelling of some words.
Can I translate English to German?
Yes, on the English to German page, or by switching the languages here.
Does it work with a scanned German PDF?
Yes. If the PDF has no selectable text, it is recognized with OCR in your browser and then translated.